Shock-absorber for shipping and storing receptacles.



F. HARGRAVES.

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR SHIPPiNG AND'STOR-IN G R ECEPTACLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. 1914.

l,14'?,62& Patented. July 20, 1915.

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SHOCK-ABSORBEREOB'SHIPPING AND STORING nncnrrncnns Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1915.

Application filed July 13, 1914.' Serial No. 850,717.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, FLORENCE HARGRAVES,

a citizen of the United States, residing at 'a simple and inexpensive device which is adapted to be attached to the corners of trunks and other shipping and storing receptaoles so that shocks incident to rough handling of the receptacles. while in transportation and being stored, are taken up and injury to the contents of the receptacle or to the receptacle itself is prevented.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which maybe attached to the corners of shipping and storing receptacles of all characters in a reliable and expeditious manner without necessitating much labor and 'any material change of the construction of the device to which it is attached.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a device of the character de,-'

scribed which is extremely simple as to construction, not liable to accidental derangement, arranged to be fastened upon receptacles so that shocks and jars are distributed 'evenly with respect to the receptacle and which is cheap to manufacture.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application. 1

With reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation showing my shock absorbing attachment attached to the corners of a trunk or like receptacle, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the corner of a receptacle showing my attachment in operative position, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the corner clamp employed for securing my device ment in elevation, and Fig. 4 is'alongitudinal sectional view taken through my shock absorbing device showing the detail construction thereof. M

Referringto the drawings, the numeral 1 designates asan entirety a trunk or like shipping and storing receptacle to the corners of which are secured a plurality of my attachments which in Fig. 1 are designated 2 as an entirety.

My improved shock absorbing device consists of a cylindrical body portion 3 having one edge "reduced to provide a shoulder 4 and being provided with internal screw threads at its other end. Slidably mounted within the cylindrical tubularbody portion 3 is a plunger or bumper member 5 provided with a semi-spherical or convex outer face 6 and being enlarged at its inner'en'd to PIOVldG'ZL shoulder 7 that is arranged to cooperate with the shoulder to prevent out-' ward movement of the bumper or plunger 5 relative to the body portion 3.

A cylindrical cap 8 having a curved closed end 9 and being provided at its open end with external screw threads 10 is adaptedto be turned into the internally screw threaded upon'a receptacle and showing the attach; 7

end of the cylindrical body portion 3.

Mounted within the body portion 3 and cap S which is hollow is a helical expansion spring 11 having one of its terminals disposed within a circular recess 12 formed in the inner face of the plunger or bumper and its other terminal disposed in bearing engagement with a ball bearing or other suitable spherical member 18. The bearing 13 engages the curved inner face of the rounded closed terminal 9 of the cap 8. It will thus be seen that when the plunger or bumper 5 is moved inwardly that the movement is against the action of the spring 11 thus causing an absorption of a shock or jar. The tension of the spring 11 may be adjusted as will be readily observed by the turning. of the cap 8. The provision of the spherical bearing 13 enables a firm bear-' ing for the spring 1.1 at all times when the cap 8 is being turnedor arranged in different adjusted positions.

As a means for securing the device to a trunk or other shipping and storing receptacle there has been provided a corner bracket consisting or a ring like body portion having formed integral therewith a plurality of angular securing ears 15 which are arranged to be secured to the side wall and purpose of securing the ears. The shoulder 4=01111Cl on the body portion 3 provides airexterior inclined face 17 that is arrai'iged to coiipe'ratewith the inclined innerface l8 ofv the ring like body portion ld'so that outward movement of the device is prevent.

ed relative to the corner clamp.

In securing the device an angular-opening 19 is formed through the corner of the receptacle 1 and is designed to receive the cylindrical body portion 3 of the device, The plunger or bumper member 5 is arranged to extend beyond the ring-like body portion 14 of the corner clamp so that the engagement thereof with a platform, floor or the like is provided when the receptacle 18 being roughly handled.

As a means for holding the device so that the outer curved face of the plunger orbumper 5 is extended beyond the corners of the receptacle 1 there has been provided clamping or securing means that is designed tobearranged interiorly of the receptacle 1 at the corners thereof and consists of a semispherical body portion 20 having angular vapertured securing cars 21 formed integral therewith and adapted to be secured upon the adjacent walls of the receptacle. l he body portion 1 is arranged in registration with the inner vend of the opening 19 and is adapted to receive the cap 8 and in being semi-spherical conforms to the shape t ereof. It will be readily seen that inward movement ofthe device is prevented by its engagement witlrthe semi-spherical body,

portion 20 of th described.

In use the receptacle is equipped at the corners with the shock absorbing means described and secured after the manner de scribed by the clamping means thus when the receptacle is-thrown about a floor or platform the shock is taken up by inward movement of the plungers 5 againstthe action of the springs 11 and injury to the receptacle or the contents thereof is eliminated."

It will be readily seen with reference to e clamps or securing means the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that my shock absorbing attachment may be readily attached-to ship ping and storing receptacles of all characters andthat injury to the contents of the receptacles or to the receptacles themselves is prevented. Y

The springs 11 may be regi'ilated so that the tensionthereof is varied by the turning of the cap 8"as' previously described. The

whole device may be readily 'assen'ibled and disassembled so that renewal of parts that may have become worn is readily provided; it will also be readily seen that the device may be attached to the ccrners of a trunk or like receptacle in such. a way that the general appearance of the receptacle is not? marred and construction thereof is not altered to any extent.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and. practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the factthat various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as set forth.

ld hat is claimed is I 1. In a device of the character described the combination with a shipping and storing receptacle of a cylindrical body portion, a plunger slidably mounted within the body portion and extending beyond one end thereof, means for preventing withdrawal of the plunger from the body portion, a semi spherical cap adjustably mounted within the body portion at the end thereof farthest removed from the plunger, a helical expansion spring mounted within the cap and body portion, a spherical member mounted between one end of the spring and inner curved face of said cap, the other end of said spring being disposed in engagement tion having-one end reduced to provide a shoulder, a plunger mounted within the body portion and extending beyond one terminal thereof, said plunger having a shoulder arranged to cocperate with the shoulder on said body portion to prevent withdrawal of said plunger, a cap upon the body portion, a spring mounted within the body portion, a bearing member interposed between one terminal of the spring and the inner face of the cap, and said plunger having its inner face recessed to receive the other terminal of said spring.

3. A shock absorber for shipping and storing receptacles comprising a cylindrical body portion having one end reduced to provide a shoulder, a plunger mounted Within the body portion and extendingbeyond one terminal thereof, said plunger having a shoulder arranged to coiiperate with the shoulder on said body portion to prevent withdrawal of said plunger, a cap adjustably mounted Within the body portion, a

spring mounted-within the body portion, a bearing member interposed between one terminal of the spring and the inner curved face of the spherical cap, and said plunger having its inner face recessed to receivethe otherterminal of said spring.

4. The combinationwith a shipping and storing receptacle having openings formed in the corners thereof of shock absorbing means mounted Within each of the openings and extending beyond the ends of the said receptacle to engage "the floor or support in advance of the receptacle, said shock' ab sorbing means comprising a cylindrical body portion, a plunger slidably mounted within the body portion and arranged to ex-- tend beyond one end thereof, a semi-spherical cap adjustably mounted Within the body portion, an expansion spring arranged within the body portion, a spherical member in terposed between and engaging one end of the spring and the innercurved face of said semi-spherical 7 cap, the other end of said spring being disposed in engagement with the inner face of said plunger, means mounted Within the interior of the receptacle for preventing inward movement ofsaid shock sorbing means'arranged in the openings and adapted to extend beyond the outer ends thereof to engage a floor 01' platform in ad Vance of the receptacle, means mounted interiorly of the receptacle for preventing inward movement of the shock- .absorbing means and means carried upon the exterior; face of the corners of the receptacle for'preventing the'ou'tward movement of the shock absorbing means whereby said shock absorbing means is disposed to engage the floor or other supporting surface in advance of the receptacle...

In testimony whereof ;I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FLORENCE HARGRAVES. I \Vitnesses:

J. T. GLIDDEN, GERALD S. ROGERS. 

